Kelly Hoppen, interior designer and currently one of the dragons on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den, whose new book is Kelly Hoppen Design Masterclass: How To Achieve The Home Of Your Dreams, said the importance of home cannot be underestimated.
“The moment we cross our threshold, we should feel the cares slip from our shoulders and be able to enjoy being cocooned in comfort, safety and warmth,” she said.
“Our homes are, after all, our greatest asset, not just financially but also for our sense of wellbeing and happiness.”
Kelly’s tips on creating a dream home
“Write a wish list for your home. Don’t worry about colour palettes, fabric choices or furniture at this stage – rather describe the atmosphere, the style of decoration you like, the things that will make you most happy, and how you want others to feel when they walk through the door.”
Kelly’s 2014 trend tips
“This year there will be a bigger emphasis on modular and structured designs.
“Lighting will play an ever increasing role as its power is understood more. Good lighting is like a layer of magic dust sprinkled over everything – it affects mood more than any other factor and is not a design ingredient you should ever skimp on.”
Nina Campbell is an interior designer with a portfolio of celebrity clients, including Rod Stewart and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. Her new book is Nina Campbell Interiors.
“A home should be finished to the point that it is comfortable and is somewhere that you can live and entertain, but it must always have a few spaces yet to be filled,” said Nina, summing up her view of design and interiors.
“If nothing ever changes, a house can become stagnant. I think it’s always good to be open to new ways to display pieces and to subtly change decor to suit the season.”
Nina’s tips on creating a dream home
“First of all, I think you need to consider a property and its location and thoroughly understand what you are working with. Then you need to decide how you want to live in the house.
“Then be honest about how you really want to live in the house – do the dogs live on the bed, do you want to lie full length on sofas or simply tucked up in an armchair?
“Finally, create your own style. One of my biggest pleasures is sourcing furniture, bespoke pieces and art so that every home is unique. One client summed up this perfectly by saying about his interior, ‘Nothing matches but everything goes together’.”
Nina’s 2014 trend tips
“I think a more classic decoration is set to enjoy a revival, with a lot more colour, pattern and detail prevalent.
“People will enjoy displaying treasured pieces of furniture along with modern, new pieces.
“Wallpapers are coming back into popularity in a big way and patterns are becoming bolder. Florals will continue to dominate and blowsy blooms and painterly designs will generally hold sway.”
Tricia Guild, founder and creative director of renowned fabric and wallpaper specialists, Designers Guild. Her new book is Colour Deconstructed.
“What does a home mean to me? That’s simple. It should be where you feel joy and happiness – it should feel like your own space, reflective of the spirit, life and loves of the person who lives there.”
Tricia’s tips on creating a dream home
“Colour can completely transform the mood of a space. Although people often feel afraid of colour, I believe we all have a colour sense – it’s just a matter of tuning into it.
“Once you start to be aware of this, you realise everyone has colours that wake them up, make them feel happy, sad or balanced. I love fresh vital colours used with masses of white to keep a sense of balance.”
Tricia’s trend tips for 2014
“People are becoming ever more confident about using and enjoying colour and pattern and really appreciating how much it can enrich a home.
“Colour makes the heart sing, touches the soul and gives joy to the spirit, and that realisation will continue and get stronger this year.”